Improvement in horse hay-rakes



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Patented. Jan.3Q, 1877.

N PETERS. FHOTO-UTNOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN OWEN, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE HAY-RAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 186,689, dated January30, 1877; application filed April 4, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN OWEN, of Dayton,in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Horse Hay-Rakes; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be-a full, clear and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to that class of horse hay-rakes in which thedriver both holds the teeth down to raking position and elevates them todischarge the collected hay by means of his foot, and in which thearrangement of parts is such that his weight facilitates the dumping ofthe rake.

The nature of my improvement consists in the construction andarrangement of a spindle-plate for adjusting the height and pitch of theteeth, as will be herewith set forth and specifically claimed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, Iwould thus proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of a horse hay-rake providedwith my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with awheel removed and a portion of the shaft broken away to show theoperating devices. Fig.3 is a rear view of a portion of the rake-head,showing the application of the spindle-plate.

Corresponding letters of reference indicate like parts in all thefigures.

The thills A are braced by the usual crossbeams B and O, and have boltedto each of their rear ends, on the under side, a metal plate or arm, a,of the shape represented. These plates are pivoted in bearings b boltedto the upper rear edge of the rake-head D, and from which they extendrearwardly, and have bolted to their under sides the supporting-bar Eparallel to the rake-head, and from which extend rearwardly thecleaner-sticks c.

F, Fig. 3, is a metal plate, from the lower side of which extendslaterally the spindle d of a piece with the plate. The inner side ofthis plate is grooved or fluted longitudinally to fit incorrespondingly-shaped grooves in the rear side of the rake-head at eachend. Two transverse slots are formed through the plate for the passageof bolts 0 that secure it to the rake-head. The supporting-wheels Grevolve upon the spindles d, and the rake-teeth f, passing over the barE, are secured to the head D in any convenient manner.

The essential feature of my invention is the spindle-plate F, which, bymeans ofits grooves fitting in the grooves of the rake-head and itsslots with the bolts passing through them into the head, is adapted tobe simply yet securely adjusted upon the rake-head, to elevate it orregulate the pitch of the teeth.

I am aware that this has been done before by devices more complicatedthan mine, and consequently make no claim to the principle but I am notaware that a fluted plate has been used with a correspondingly-groovedrake-head to aid the fastening-bolts in hearing the downward strain.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to. secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with the rake-head grooved at each end, of thespindle-plates F with their innerfaces fluted to lit the grooves in thehead, and slotted transversely for the passage of the fastening-bolts e,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Witness my hand this 21st day of March, A. D. 1876.

BENJ. OWEN. Witnesses:

CHAS. M. PEOK, LEO GREULICH.

